… Read Full Bio ↴Ian Dury (1942-2000) was an English singer, songwriter, and bandleader.
Born on 12th May 1942, he is best known as founder and lead singer of the British band Ian Dury and the Blockheads, though he began his musical career in pub-rock act Kilburn & the High Roads. He wrote many famous songs including "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick", "What a Waste", and "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll". He died on 27th March 2000.
At the age of seven, Dury contracted polio; very likely, he believed, from a swimming pool at Southend on Sea during the 1949 polio epidemic. After six weeks in a full plaster cast in Truro hospital, he was moved to Black Notley Hospital, Braintree, Essex, where he spent a year and a half before going to Chailey Heritage Craft School, East Sussex, in 1951. Chailey was a school and hospital for disabled children, and believed in toughening them up, contributing to the observant and determined person Dury became.
Ther Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards
Ian Dury Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As a writer he was brahma.
Velvet, jackets and pyjamas,
had a gay divorce and other dramas.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bas-tards.
Van Gough did some eyeball pleasers.
He must have been a pencil squeezer.
He didn't do the Mona Lisa,
That was an Italian geezer.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bas-tards.
Einstein can't be classed as witless.
He claimed atoms were the littlest.
When you did a bit of splitting-em-ness
Frighten everybody shitless
There ain't half been some clever bastards.
Probably got help from their mum
(who had help from her mum).
There ain't half been some clever bastards.
Now that we've had some,
let's hope that there's lots more to come.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bastards.
Okey-dokey!
Oh!
Segovia.
Da-laa la-laa da-daa da-lee
De dump di dump de dump-dump-diddle li-lee.
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bastards
(Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There ain't half been some clever bastards.
In the song "There Ain't Half Been Some Clever Bastards" by Ian Dury, the lyrics focus on notable figures throughout history who are considered clever and talented in their respective fields. The first verse mentions Noel Coward, the English playwright, and songwriter known for his charming personality and wit. The second verse talks about the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, who is known for creating many beautiful paintings, despite a difficult life. The third verse refers to Albert Einstein, the German physicist who developed the theory of relativity and changed the way we think about the universe.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "There ain't half been some clever bastards," which expresses Ian Dury's admiration for the talents and achievements of these notable figures. The song suggests that these people were lucky to be born with their talents, but there may also have been a strong element of hard work and dedication that contributed to their success.
Line by Line Meaning
Noel Coward was a charmer.
Noel Coward was a charming person.
As a writer he was brahma.
Noel Coward was an exceptional writer.
Velvet, jackets and pyjamas,
Noel Coward had a taste for luxurious clothes.
Had a gay divorce and other dramas.
Noel Coward had a controversial life, including a divorce and other dramatic events.
Van Gough did some eyeball pleasers.
Vincent Van Gogh is known for creating some visually stunning artworks.
He must have been a pencil squeezer.
Van Gogh must have had exceptional drawing skills.
He didn't do the Mona Lisa,
Van Gogh did not paint the famous Mona Lisa.
That was an Italian geezer.
The Mona Lisa was painted by an Italian artist.
Einstein can't be classed as witless.
Albert Einstein was not a foolish person.
He claimed atoms were the littlest.
Einstein proposed that atoms were the smallest particle of matter.
When you did a bit of splitting-em-ness, Frighten everybody shitless
When scientists split an atom, it caused a lot of fear and concern.
Probably got help from their mum (who had help from her mum).
These clever people probably received some assistance and support from their mothers and grandmothers.
Now that we've had some, let's hope that there's lots more to come.
Having seen the achievements of these clever people, we hope to see more in the future.
Segovia. Da-laa la-laa da-daa da-lee, De dump di dump de dump-dump-diddle li-lee.
This line is likely a reference to the Spanish classical guitarist Andrés Segovia.
There ain't half been some clever bastards (Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
There have been many exceptionally clever people.
There ain't half been some clever bastards. (Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders) There ain't half been some clever bastards. (Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders) There ain't half been some clever bastards. (Lucky bleeders, lucky bleeders)
This line repeats the message about the impressive number of clever people to emphasize the point.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN ROBINS DURY, RUSSELL GODFREY HARDY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nossasenhoradoo871
"He died too young, as do all the good 'uns."
Bollocks. He probably faked his death, as do most pop, rock and films stars. Maybe he should have had a degenerative disease like Stephen Hawking - then he would have live longer! (Heh, heh!)
And I am fan. My girlfriend (at the time) loved his music and Hit Me is one of the greatest songs of all time, though I give at least 50% of the credit to that fantastic bass line!
The 'good'uns' don't die young; they fake their deaths for insurance purposes. Take a look at Karen Carpenter's pictures when she was suffering from bulimia ;they used an athlete's (a runner) body and you all fell for it. Heck, The Carpenters weren't even siblings!
@jethropike1964
"When you do a bit of splitiness frighten everybody shitless", you don't get lyrics like that any more, Ian Dury=genius, one of my all time heroes
@VeeWales
I was born in 71, but thanks to a generous older brother, I was not forced to endure a life without Ian. Other people's parents were frankly shocked at my lyric knowledge in the playground. I love you Ian. xxxxx
@TheSuzy6
One of the best lyricists of all time, pure and simple! Miss you madly Ian and adore your genius songs!!
@amk110270
Ian Dury was a very underrated artist and lyricist. He died too young, as do all the good 'uns.
@paulph12002
No, he wasn't underrated. He was very successful back in the day.
@RJDCR
yes
@nossasenhoradoo871
"He died too young, as do all the good 'uns."
Bollocks. He probably faked his death, as do most pop, rock and films stars. Maybe he should have had a degenerative disease like Stephen Hawking - then he would have live longer! (Heh, heh!)
And I am fan. My girlfriend (at the time) loved his music and Hit Me is one of the greatest songs of all time, though I give at least 50% of the credit to that fantastic bass line!
The 'good'uns' don't die young; they fake their deaths for insurance purposes. Take a look at Karen Carpenter's pictures when she was suffering from bulimia ;they used an athlete's (a runner) body and you all fell for it. Heck, The Carpenters weren't even siblings!
@TheMichaelseymour
@mellkiades Like so many people ....you talk logic . However, when a person A: experiences something illogical , person B: has not had any experience of ....he makes blanket statements ...like yours . Isnt it strange how many times Evil lives long ....and goodness , snuffs out....this IS satans world...but good folk (like us ?) are dragged away ....hmmm...well , because there IS an afterlife ....small price to pay for an eternal soul ... in limitlessness of a spiritual life....75 yrs is fuck all....take comfort , thats ALL bush , etc will ever get ...in fact ...they get that time because god gives them plenty of time to have a conscience ...but they generally dont ....and so can be rightfully extinguished upon death ....even in death God is merciful ...but the biggest punishment for them - NO consciousness at all - ever again ....sorry , cant let you make those generalizations and not challenge it
@mellkiades
@Michael Seymour you write with such certitudes, which is completely bollocks. You're not challenging anything. You're just repeating what your parents and surrounding believers have told you. You're not thinking for yourself. SAPERE AUDE. Think for yourself, and you'll realize that being certain of things like you are is a pathetic position. Skepticism is a far superior solution: DOUBT EVERYTHING you're being told and read - do not believe the thought leaders that only wish you to fall in the ranks and follow their gibberish and false promises. Religion has understood for ages that if you promise eternal life you'll have flocks of imbeciles following you, going wild and ready to do anything to get that damned reward. They've been marketing experts for eons. Put all in a giant garbage and start anew by doubting everything and understand one thing: even if a superior entity came down and explained to you how the universe worked and how it was created you would NOT understand it, because our brain is limited and so is our imagination. Your role is to be part of a chain of beings and to witness for a short amount of time your surroundings. It is NOT to have certitudes about the fucking universe and a God you and your kind wish to exist and that you have fabricated with your brains and that is a result of your limited imagination and understanding of the universe. The truth is far more complex or far more simple or far more different or far more impossible to comprehend. The truth is not some very creative storytelling written by people 2,000 years ago when people thought that the Earth was flat.
Your own name says it: SEYMOUR. SEE MORE than what you've been brainwashed with.
@billt1954
Our Ian was a bit of a clever bastard himself, wasn’t he?